And so this is 2013, and what have we done? Another year over, and a new one's just begun… Holiday songs aside, 2013 is upon us, and that means reflecting on the past year and looking forward to things to come. This week, Weekly Famitsu asked several Japanese game developers about their plans for 2013. Each company answered with a keyword or phrase and a brief overview of their plans for the upcoming year. Here's what some of them had to say.

Advertisement

Company: Sony Computer Entertainment JapanKeyword/phrase: "A Year of Laughter!!" We hope it will be a year where people will be able to be brighter, more vibrant and happier through PlayStation.Look To 2013: We look to expand the PlayStation platform. We hope to let more customers play the PlayStation [brand] and increase our fans.

Company: Microsoft JapanKeyword/phrase: Make it a year of "Connecting to Users and Expanding Their Enjoyment," be they existing or new.Look To 2013: The Xbox 360 is creating a new value centered on hardware, software, and service, and we hope to strengthen that in 2013. We will also offer a new interactive entertainment-filled user experience through the broad spectrum of device connectivity enabled by the "Xbox SmartGlass" to a wider audience.

Advertisement

Company: KonamiKeyword/phrase: "Continuous, New Enjoyment."Look To 2013: It's top secret, so we can't disclose it now. It's a secret.

Company: Square EnixKeyword/phrase: "A Shift to Online Service"Look To 2013: Establish MMO games and social games as well as strengthening IP.

Company: SegaKeyword/phrase: "A Year of Leaping Forward"Look To 2013: We will provide a balanced lineup of completely new titles, series titles, multiplayer games and such for a wider audience to enjoy. We also hope to obtain new consumers in both the home console and arcade market and increase customer satisfaction.

Sponsored

Company: AtlusKeyword/phrase: "Revolutionary"Look To 2013: We look to increasing our user base by delivering the "Atlus" brand to new stages through methods like mixed media and collaborations.

Company: Namco BandaiKeyword/phrase: "Challenge! Growth! Evolution!"Look To 2013: Namco Bandai plans to expand by thinking out of the box and through our IP-centric products and services.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Company: Tecmo Koei GamesKeyword/phrase: 2013 makes the 30th anniversary for the Nobunaga's Ambition series. We will "Make It a Year of New Challenges" while caring for our existing series and fans!Look To 2013: We aim to be the world's number one entertainment content provider by offering products and services to satisfy our customers.

Company: Platinum GamesKeyword/phrase: In April, 2011, our CEO, Tatsuya Minami, delivered the message, "Challenge The World As Representatives of Japan." In 2013, we will re-acknowledge and strengthen this feeling as we slowly begin releasing the titles we have been preparing. This will be the year that the second stage of Platinum Games comes to form, and it will be a year that we vigorously push forward as both a brand and as a group.Look To 2013: It looks to be a very dense year with the release of Metal Gear Rising Revengeance and new information on the already announced The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2. We have become widely recognized internationally as an action game maker, but we hope to strengthen our image through the release or announcements of the aforementioned titles. We hope that 2013 will be a year that many more users across the world will hear and know of the company, "Platinum Games."